LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Matt Covington jumped the lead on the start at I-30 Speedway and kept that position through Saturday’s SawBlade.com A-Feature with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network.
“This is one of my favorite tracks. It’s where I started sprint car racing in 2008 before I ever started running ASCS, so I’ve got more laps at this track any track really,” said Covington who has once again taken over the points lead.
Covington’s 13th career victory with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network, the win is a series of firsts for the Glenpool, Okla. driver despite his years around the Arkansas quarter-mile.
Covington’s first career win in Speedweek competition, the win is also his first at “Hammer Hill” against the National Tour, as well as his first tour score in the state of Arkansas.
Officially leading every lap, Covington’s lead was lost at one point when J.J. Hickle worked under the No. 95 on lap 19. Crossing over the finish line, Hickle was joined by seven more drivers before the caution lights came on for Michael Faccinto who spun racing for second after tagging an infield tire. Reverting the field back to lap 18, that put Covington back to the point.
“Thank God for the caution because J.J. showed by the bottom,” stated Covington when asked about the near pass.
“I don’t think I would have found it on my own. I couldn’t see it, and I thought I might have seen turn four getting a little darker, but I just didn’t know where it was going to take, but fortunately, the caution came out,” Covington said. “Good for me, bad for J.J., but that’s why that call it racing and now winning all the time, but the track was good all night considering how hot it was, and with this many cars.”
Hickle finished second, with Dylan Westbrook, Tim Crawley and Brandon Hanks rounding out the top five.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 95-Matt Covington[1]; 2. 63-JJ Hickle[3]; 3. 47X-Dylan Westbrook[2]; 4. 1X-Tim Crawley[6]; 5. 84-Brandon Hanks[7]; 6. 67-Hayden Martin[13]; 7. 17B-Ryan Bickett[10]; 8. 26-Marshall Skinner[14]; 9. 52-Blake Hahn[4]; 10. 19-Colby Thornhill[23]; 11. 21-Gunner Ramey[16]; 12. 14-Jordon Mallett[15]; 13. 91A-Ernie Ainsworth[18]; 14. 91T-Tyler Thomas[21]; 15. 5T-Ryan Timms[5]; 16. 24W-Jeffrey West Jr[19]; 17. 41-Colton Hardy[20]; 18. 10L-Landon Britt[22]; 19. 28-Scott Bogucki[9]; 20. 3-Howard Moore[11]; 21. 5H-Michael Faccinto[12]; 22. 6-Dustin Gates[8]; 23. 3G-Paxton Gregory[25]; 24. G6-Cody Gardner[17]; 25. 77X-Greg Hamilton[24]